332 Note on the Mijjertheyn Somalees. [No. 149. 



The season of 1843 was considered as very unfavorable, owing to 

 the drought, and the crop of gums not more than half the average 

 quantity, and I was assured that three years ago the export exceeded 

 20,000 bahars ; but taking every thing into consideration, I think 

 from 900 to 1,000 tons may be set down as a fair estimate. 



The trees that produce the luban, or frankincense, are of two kinds ; 

 viz. the luban meyeti, and luban bedoui, of these, the meyeti which 

 grows out of the naked rock, is the most valuable, and when clean, 

 picked, and of good quality, it is sold by the merchants on the coast 

 for \ dollar per frasila of 20 pounds. The luban bedoui of 

 the best quality, is sold for 1 dollar per frasila of both kinds ; the 

 palest colour is preferred. The trees vary greatly in height, but I 

 never saw one above 20 feet, with a stem of nine inches diameter. 

 Their form is very graceful, and when springing from a mass of 

 marble on the brink of a precipice, their appearance is especially 

 picturesque. 



The gum arabic, or summuk, is of three kinds; viz. the ad-ad, wadi 

 and aukokib, of which the aukokib is considered the best. It sells 

 at Bunder Murayah for li dollar per frasila of 20 pounds. The tree 

 is found on the mountain sides, in a good red soil, and varies in 

 height from 10 to 20 feet. 



The inferior qualities of gums of course are sold at a much lower 

 rate, but when it is remembered that the merchant who resides at the 

 Bunder, purchases two pounds of frankincense for one pound of dates, 

 and one pound of summuk for two pounds of dates, the profits may be 

 easily imagined ; for instance, a man purchases a bag of Muscat dates 

 weighing 120 pounds for £ dollar, with this he purchases 12 frasi- 

 las of luban, which he sells to the traders, who sell for it at the rate 

 of one frasila per \± dollar. 



Myrrh is brought from Wadi Nogal, and from Murreyhan and 

 Agahora; some few trees are found on the mountains at the back of 

 Bunder Murayah, about 50 miles from the Levant. It is sold at Bunder 

 Murayah, when well picked and clean, at 4 pounds for a dollar. I sent 

 inland when at Bunder Murayah, and succeeded in getting two speci- 

 mens of the tree, which is I believe, but slightly known. 



The quantity of the ghee that is brought down for sale is too 

 trifling to merit any remark. It is, however, singularly clear and good, 



